PAULA WISEMAN

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Posts that reference the Gospel of Mark

STT: Miracles

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Study tip tuesday water water everywhere miracles title graphic

“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” – Mark 4:41

Throughout Scripture, God demonstrates His sovereignty through miraculous control over water. These water miracles reveal not only divine power over nature but also profound theological truths about God’s character, His redemptive purposes, and His relationship with His people.

Water from Rock: Provision in Impossible Places

One of the most striking water miracles occurs when God provides water from solid rock:

Miracle at Horeb/Massah

  • When Israel complained of thirst in the wilderness, God instructed Moses: “Strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink” (Exodus 17:6)
  • This miracle demonstrated God’s ability to provide in seemingly impossible circumstances
  • The people named the place Massah (testing) and Meribah (quarreling), marking their lack of faith despite the miracle

Miracle at Kadesh

  • Years later, a similar situation arose at Kadesh, where God instructed Moses to speak to the rock (Numbers 20:8)
  • Moses struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it, yet water still flowed abundantly
  • Though the miracle occurred, Moses’ disobedience in how he performed it prevented him from entering the Promised Land

Theological Significance

  • Paul reveals the deeper meaning: “The rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4)
  • This miracle foreshadowed how Christ, when struck, would become the source of living water
  • The abundant water from a seemingly barren source symbolized grace flowing from an unexpected place

Parting of Waters: Path Through the Impossible

Multiple times in Scripture, God miraculously parts waters to create paths for His people:

The Red Sea Crossing

  • When trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, Moses stretched out his hand, and “the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land” (Exodus 14:21)
  • The Israelites passed through on dry ground while the waters formed walls on their right and left
  • When the Egyptians pursued, the waters returned to their normal course, destroying the enemy

The Jordan River Crossing

  • Under Joshua’s leadership, when the priests carrying the ark stepped into the Jordan, “the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap” (Joshua 3:16)
  • This miracle echoed the Red Sea crossing, connecting God’s past faithfulness with His present activity
  • The twelve memorial stones taken from the riverbed served as a lasting testimony to future generations

Elijah and Elisha’s Crossings

  • Elijah struck the Jordan with his cloak, and “the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:8)
  • After Elijah’s ascension, Elisha repeated the miracle, confirming the transfer of prophetic authority
  • This smaller-scale parting of waters connected these prophets to the Exodus tradition

Theological Significance

  • These miracles demonstrate God’s power over chaos (represented by water in ancient Near Eastern thought)
  • They reveal God’s commitment to making a way where there seems to be no way
  • The dry path through threatening waters symbolizes salvation itself—safe passage through what would otherwise destroy

Water into Wine: Transformation Miracle

Jesus’ first recorded miracle involved water’s transformation:

The Miracle at Cana

  • At a wedding feast in Cana, Jesus instructed servants to fill six stone water jars with water (John 2:7)
  • When drawn out, the water had become fine wine—better than what had been served earlier
  • This transformation occurred without any visible action or incantation from Jesus

Symbolic Significance

  • The water jars were used for “Jewish rites of purification” (John 2:6), connecting this miracle to the theme of old and new covenant
  • The transformation of purification water into celebratory wine symbolized the shift from law to grace
  • The abundance (approximately 120-180 gallons) represented the overflowing nature of Christ’s provision

Calming the Storm: Authority Over Chaotic Waters

Jesus demonstrated divine authority over threatening waters:

The Miracle on the Sea of Galilee

  • During a violent storm, Jesus was asleep in the boat while the disciples feared for their lives
  • When awakened, “he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39)
  • The disciples’ response—”Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”—indicates the theological significance of this miracle

Walking on Water

  • In a separate incident, Jesus approached the disciples’ boat by walking on the stormy sea (Matthew 14:25)
  • Peter briefly joined Jesus on the water before his faith faltered
  • Jesus’ command over the water that threatened to engulf Peter demonstrated His power to save

Theological Significance

  • These miracles echo Old Testament descriptions of God’s power over chaotic waters: “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them” (Psalm 89:9)
  • Jesus’ authority over water revealed His divine identity
  • The calming of external chaos parallels Jesus’ ability to calm internal turmoil

Healing Waters: Restoration Through Water

Several miracles involve healing through water:

The Pool of Bethesda

  • Jesus healed a paralyzed man who had waited 38 years beside the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9)
  • Popular belief held that an angel would stir the waters, healing the first person to enter
  • Jesus bypassed the water entirely, demonstrating His superior healing power

The Pool of Siloam

  • Jesus healed a man born blind by applying mud to his eyes and instructing him to “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (John 9:7)
  • The man’s obedience in washing resulted in complete restoration of sight
  • The name “Siloam” means “sent,” connecting this healing water to Jesus as the One sent by the Father

Naaman’s Healing

  • Elisha instructed Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River to be cleansed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:10)
  • Naaman initially resisted, expecting a more dramatic healing ritual
  • His eventual obedience resulted in skin “like the flesh of a little child” (2 Kings 5:14)

Theological Significance

  • These healing waters demonstrate that restoration often comes through simple obedience rather than spectacular displays
  • The contrast between expected and actual methods of healing challenges human preconceptions about divine activity
  • Water becomes not magical in itself but a medium through which faith is expressed and God’s power manifested

When you encounter water miracles in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Divine revelation: What aspect of God’s character does this miracle reveal?
  2. Human response: How do witnesses react to this demonstration of power over water?
  3. Symbolic meaning: What spiritual truth might this water miracle illustrate?
  4. New Testament connections: How does this miracle connect to Christ’s person and work?

Water miracles in Scripture remind us that the same God who controls the physical elements holds sovereign power over all circumstances in our lives. These miracles serve as divine signatures throughout biblical history.

STT: Cleansing

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study tip tuesdat Water Water Everywhere Cleansing title graphic

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.” – Ezekiel 36:25

Throughout Scripture, water serves not only as a physical element but also as a central component in rituals that symbolize spiritual realities. From ceremonial washings to baptism, these water rituals reveal profound truths about purification, transition, and covenant relationship with God.

Ceremonial Washing in the Old Testament

The Mosaic Law established various water rituals for purification:

The Laver in the Tabernacle

  • God commanded Moses to make “a bronze basin with its bronze stand for washing” (Exodus 30:18)
  • Priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the tent of meeting: “They shall wash with water, so that they may not die” (Exodus 30:20)
  • This ritual washing symbolized the need for purity when approaching God’s presence
  • The physical cleansing represented spiritual preparation for sacred service

Purification from Uncleanness

  • Various conditions required ritual washing: contact with the dead (Numbers 19:11-13), bodily discharges (Leviticus 15), skin diseases (Leviticus 14:8-9)
  • The “water of cleansing” contained the ashes of a red heifer (Numbers 19:9)
  • These washings restored ceremonial cleanness and community participation
  • They established the principle that impurity is contagious but so is holiness

Ritual Immersion (Mikveh)

  • Though not explicitly commanded in the Torah, ritual immersion became a standard Jewish practice
  • Archaeological evidence shows mikvehs (ritual baths) were common in first-century Judaism
  • This practice formed the background for John’s baptism and early Christian baptism
  • Complete immersion symbolized total purification and renewal

John’s Baptism: A Transitional Water Ritual

John the Baptist introduced a new water ritual that bridged Old and New Testament concepts:

Baptism of Repentance

  • John proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4)
  • Unlike ceremonial washings, this was a one-time ritual symbolizing a decisive turning from sin
  • John’s baptism was preparatory: “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me… will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11)

Public Declaration

  • People came “confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:6), making baptism a public acknowledgment
  • This public nature contrasted with private ceremonial washings
  • John’s baptism identified participants with the coming Messiah and His kingdom

Jesus’ Baptism as Endorsement

  • Jesus’ submission to John’s baptism validated this water ritual (Matthew 3:13-17)
  • Though sinless, Jesus identified with sinful humanity through this act
  • The Father’s voice and Spirit’s descent at Jesus’ baptism connected this water ritual with Trinitarian presence

Christian Baptism: The Ultimate Water Ritual

Building on these foundations, Christian baptism emerged as the definitive water ritual:

Symbol of Death and Resurrection

  • Paul explained: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4)
  • The immersion symbolized burial with Christ; emerging from the water represented resurrection
  • This symbolism transformed baptism from mere cleansing to identification with Christ’s redemptive work

Initiation into Community

  • At Pentecost, Peter instructed: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38)
  • Baptism marked entrance into the church community: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • This communal aspect connected baptism to covenant identity

Outward Sign of Inward Reality

  • Peter clarified that baptism’s power lies not in “removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience” (1 Peter 3:21)
  • The physical ritual symbolizes the spiritual cleansing accomplished by Christ
  • Baptism serves as a “visible word” that dramatizes the gospel promise

Foot Washing: A Ritual of Humble Service

Jesus introduced another significant water ritual during the Last Supper:

Jesus’ Example

  • “He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet” (John 13:5)
  • This action inverted social hierarchy, as foot washing was typically performed by servants
  • Peter’s resistance revealed how countercultural this act was (John 13:8)

Symbolic Meaning

  • Jesus explained: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)
  • This ritual symbolized humble service as the essence of Christian leadership
  • The water ritual became a tangible expression of Jesus’ teaching that “whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43)

Water Rituals in Prophetic Vision

The prophets envisioned future water rituals that would perfect what earlier rituals foreshadowed:

Ezekiel’s Vision of Sprinkling

  • “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses” (Ezekiel 36:25)
  • This prophetic water ritual is connected with spiritual transformation: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26)
  • The emphasis shifts from external washing to internal renewal

Zechariah’s Fountain

  • “On that day there shall be a fountain opened… to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1)
  • This eschatological water source represents the permanent availability of cleansing
  • The “fountain” imagery suggests abundance rather than scarcity of purification

Study Application

When you encounter water rituals in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Historical context: How does this ritual relate to other water ceremonies of the time?
  2. Symbolic meaning: What spiritual reality does this water ritual represent?
  3. Theological significance: What does this ritual reveal about God’s holiness, human sin, or divine grace?
  4. Progressive revelation: How does this ritual build on previous water ceremonies or anticipate future ones?

Water rituals in Scripture remind us that physical actions can carry profound spiritual significance. These ceremonies engage our senses to teach truths that might otherwise remain abstract, helping us embody our faith through tangible expressions.

STT: Seas

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Study Tip Tuesday Water Water Everywhere Seas title graphic

“You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” – Psalm 89:9

Throughout Scripture, seas and oceans represent more than vast bodies of water—they embody both chaos and divine control, danger and deliverance. By understanding how God interacts with the seas, we gain profound insights into His sovereignty, power, and redemptive purposes.

The Red Sea: Waters of Deliverance and Judgment

The Red Sea crossing stands as one of the most dramatic sea narratives in Scripture, revealing God’s dual purpose through water:

Deliverance

  • God parted the waters to create a path of escape for His people: “The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21)
  • Israel passed through on dry ground, experiencing God’s protection within what should have been a place of death (Exodus 14:22)
  • This deliverance became a defining moment in Israel’s identity, repeatedly referenced throughout Scripture as evidence of God’s faithfulness (Psalm 106:9-11, Isaiah 51:10)

Judgment

  • The same waters that delivered Israel destroyed Pharaoh’s army: “The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen” (Exodus 14:28)
  • This dual function established a pattern seen throughout Scripture: the same divine action brings both salvation and judgment depending on one’s relationship with God

The Sea of Galilee: Waters of Ministry and Miracles

This freshwater lake (actually a sea by biblical definition) features prominently in Jesus’ ministry:

  • Jesus called His first disciples from among fishermen on these shores (Matthew 4:18-22)
  • Many of His teachings occurred near or on these waters, including parables from boats (Mark 4:1-2)
  • Jesus demonstrated His authority over creation by calming the stormy sea (Mark 4:35-41)
  • He revealed His divine nature by walking on these waters (Matthew 14:22-33)
  • The Sea of Galilee became the backdrop for the miraculous catch of fish, both early in His ministry (Luke 5:1-11) and after His resurrection (John 21:1-14)

The Mediterranean Sea: Waters of Mission and Providence

The “Great Sea” of biblical times played a crucial role in the spread of the gospel:

  • Paul’s missionary journeys frequently involved Mediterranean Sea travel (Acts 13-28)
  • His shipwreck experience demonstrated God’s providential care even amid maritime disaster (Acts 27:13-44)
  • The Mediterranean connected the early church communities, allowing for the spread of letters and teachings

Seas as Symbol of Chaos and Evil

  • In ancient Near Eastern thought, seas represented primordial chaos, which God’s creative power ordered (Genesis 1:2, 6-10)
  • The prophets used sea imagery to represent hostile nations and forces opposing God’s people (Isaiah 17:12-13)
  • Daniel’s vision depicts beasts rising from the sea, symbolizing threatening empires (Daniel 7:2-3)
  • The beast of Revelation emerges from the sea, representing anti-God political power (Revelation 13:1)

Seas as Display of Divine Power

  • God’s control over the seas demonstrates His sovereignty: “The sea is his, for he made it” (Psalm 95:5)
  • Jesus’ authority over stormy waters revealed His divine nature to the disciples: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)
  • God sets boundaries for the seas, showing His ordering of creation: “I placed boundaries on it and set a bolt and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther'” (Job 38:10-11)

The Promise of No More Sea

  • Revelation’s vision of the new creation declares, “the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1)
  • This symbolizes the end of chaos, separation, danger, and all that threatens God’s people
  • The absence of sea represents the complete victory of divine order over chaos

When you encounter seas and oceans in your Bible reading, consider:

  1. Theological significance: How does this passage reveal God’s power over chaos and evil?
  2. Narrative purpose: How does the sea function in this story—as barrier, instrument of judgment, or setting for divine revelation?
  3. Symbolic meaning: What might the sea represent in this context—chaos, nations, separation, or danger?
  4. New Testament connections: How does Jesus’ interaction with the sea fulfill or transform Old Testament sea imagery?

Seas in Scripture remind us that what appears most threatening and uncontrollable to us remains fully under God’s sovereign command. The waters that seem ready to overwhelm us can become, in His hands, the very means of our deliverance.

STT: Water, Water Everywhere: Rivers

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Studt tip Tuesday Water Water everywhere Rivers title graphic

“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.” – Psalm 46:4

Throughout Scripture, rivers serve as more than mere geographical features—they are powerful symbols that help tell God’s story of redemption. By understanding the significance of these waterways, we gain deeper insight into biblical narratives and their theological meaning.

The Jordan River: A Boundary of Promise

The Jordan River stands as perhaps the most significant waterway in Scripture. When Joshua led the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land, the Jordan represented the final barrier between their wilderness wandering and their inheritance. As the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the water, “the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap” (Joshua 3:16), allowing God’s people to cross on dry ground.

This miraculous crossing echoed the Red Sea deliverance and demonstrated God’s faithfulness to His promises. The twelve memorial stones taken from the riverbed served as a lasting reminder that “the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over” (Joshua 4:23).

The Jordan as Symbol of Transition

Throughout Scripture, the Jordan consistently marks significant transitions:

  • For Israel, crossing the Jordan represented the transition from nomadic wilderness life to settlement in the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4)
  • For Elijah, the Jordan marked his transition from earthly ministry to heavenly reward as he crossed it before being taken up in the chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:6-8)
  • For Elisha, crossing back over the Jordan using Elijah’s mantle symbolized his transition into the prophetic office (2 Kings 2:13-14)
  • For Jesus, his baptism in the Jordan marked the transition from his private life to public ministry (Matthew 3:13-17)

The Jordan as Symbol of Cleansing

The Jordan’s waters are repeatedly associated with cleansing:

  • Naaman the Syrian was instructed to wash seven times in the Jordan to be cleansed of leprosy, symbolizing both physical and spiritual purification (2 Kings 5:10-14)
  • John the Baptist conducted his ministry of repentance at the Jordan, where people were “baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:5)
  • Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan established it as the archetypal location for Christian baptism, which Paul later describes as washing away sins (Acts 22:16)

The Jordan as Symbol of New Beginnings

The Jordan consistently appears at moments of new beginnings in biblical narrative:

  • Israel’s new beginning as a nation in their own land commenced with crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3)
  • Elisha’s new ministry began after crossing the Jordan (2 Kings 2)
  • The Gospels present Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan as inaugurating a new covenant, marked by the voice from heaven and descent of the Spirit (Luke 3:21-22)

Other Rivers That Tell God’s Story

The Nile River: Symbol of Both Provision and Judgment

The Nile River features prominently in Egypt’s relationship with God’s people:

  • It became the cradle of protection for baby Moses when his mother placed him in a basket among the reeds (Exodus 2:3-5)
  • God demonstrated His sovereignty over Egypt’s most revered resource by turning the Nile to blood as the first plague (Exodus 7:17-21)
  • The Nile represented Egypt’s agricultural prosperity and false security, which Isaiah prophesied would dry up as judgment (Isaiah 19:5-7)
  • In Egyptian culture, the Nile was worshipped as a god, making God’s control over it a powerful statement about His supremacy over false deities

The Euphrates and Tigris: Boundaries of Civilization and Empire

These rivers defined the cradle of civilization and played significant roles in biblical history:

  • Both are mentioned in the Garden of Eden narrative, establishing them as part of God’s original creation (Genesis 2:14)
  • The Euphrates marked the northeastern boundary of God’s territorial promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18)
  • Babylon, situated on the Euphrates, became the place of Israel’s exile and captivity (2 Kings 24:10-16)
  • The prophets used the Euphrates symbolically in their messages about coming judgment and restoration (Jeremiah 13:1-11)
  • Revelation depicts the Euphrates drying up to prepare the way for the kings from the east in end-time events (Revelation 16:12)

The Jabbok River: Site of Spiritual Transformation

Though smaller, the Jabbok River marks a pivotal moment in Israel’s spiritual history:

  • Jacob wrestled with God at the ford of the Jabbok, experiencing profound spiritual transformation (Genesis 32:22-32)
  • After crossing this river and encountering God, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel (“he struggles with God”)
  • This river crossing represents the spiritual struggle that precedes blessing and the intimate encounter with God that transforms identity

The Kishon River: Instrument of Divine Victory

The Kishon demonstrates how God uses natural features in His deliverance:

  • This river became the site of Deborah and Barak’s victory over Sisera’s army when God sent a flood that immobilized the enemy’s chariots (Judges 4:7, 5:21)
  • The Kishon is celebrated in Deborah’s song as having “swept them away,” showing how God uses creation itself to accomplish His purposes

Rivers in Prophetic Vision: Future Hope and Restoration

Rivers feature prominently in prophetic literature as symbols of God’s future restoration:

  • Ezekiel’s vision of the river flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47:1-12) grows deeper and wider, bringing healing and life wherever it flows
  • This imagery finds its fulfillment in Revelation 22:1-2, where “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb” sustains the tree of life whose leaves are “for the healing of the nations”
  • Isaiah speaks of God making “rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19), symbolizing the miraculous provision and restoration God promises His people

Each of these rivers carries not just water but profound theological significance, helping us understand God’s character, His dealings with humanity, and His ultimate purposes for creation.

When you encounter rivers in your Bible reading, consider:
Historical context: How did this river impact the geography and history of God’s people?
Symbolic meaning: What might this river represent in the spiritual narrative?
Connections: How does this river connect to other biblical passages and themes?
Personal application: What spiritual lessons can you draw from this river narrative?
Rivers in Scripture often mark boundaries between promise and fulfillment, slavery and freedom, death and life. They remind us that God often leads us through barriers that seem impossible to cross, making a way where there seems to be no way.
For reflection: What “Jordan River” stands between you and God’s promises in your life? How might God be calling you to step into those waters in faith, trusting Him to make a way?

Drum Lessons

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Drum Lessons title graphic

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

For several years I worked in the performing arts department of a junior college. We had several adjunct instructors who gave music lessons to students from elementary age to adult. We even had a percussion instructor. That means drum lessons. Right down the hallway from my office. When an eight-year-old boy takes drum lessons, it sounds just like you think it would … only more repetitive.

And eight-year-old boys generally do not realize that, while their drumming sounds pretty awesome to them, it’s a little … distracting to the people with offices in that hallway. (Before we go much further, let me clarify a couple of things. First, I love eight-year-old boys. And second, lessons for the high school and college drummers don’t sound much different.)

Here’s the lesson for us, though. If we as believers carry out the gospel of Jesus Christ without love for those we engage, it’s not much better than drum lessons.

If our hearts are full of judgment or condemnation – drum lessons.
If we are concerned with fulfilling an obligation or racking up numbers – drum lessons.
If we are interested in proving we’re right and someone else is wrong – drum lessons.

And it doesn’t matter how skillfully we present things, how well our points are made, how solid our theology is, or how fluid our transitions are. If we don’t love people, as they are, we present them with noise– annoying, repetitive noise.

Remember the rich young ruler in the Gospels? He was an arrogant, self-righteous hypocrite. Well, he was. In Mark’s account, it reads, “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him …” (Mark 10:21). Notice “loved him” comes before “said to him.”

Honestly, that may be the root cause for why it’s hard to carry out the gospel in the first place– we don’t have a deep, abiding love for the people around us. Let’s pray that God gives us that love and that the Holy Spirit empowers us to act on it.

 

 

 

 

 

The Call

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The Call title graphic

[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9

It’s easy to dismiss the call of God as something only for preachers or missionaries or other A-list Christians, but God has called each of us. In one sense, answering the call is fulfilling the purpose God had in mind for us when He saved us. In another sense, it’s an expression of our obedience.

The call is unmistakable. (Judges 6:22)
Everyone in Scripture knew they had heard from God. Admittedly they may have been reluctant to answer. They may have stalled or delayed. But they knew it was God calling.

The call is according to God’s purpose. (2 Timothy 1:9)
God never calls us to busywork. Everything He involves us in is fulfilling His kingdom purposes.

The call leads to being sent out. (Mark 6:7)
I’ve yet to find an example of someone God ordained and equipped who was not immediately put to work. There is no orientation period, no job shadowing, no time to research the pros and cons. Part of the reason for this is that we are sent out in His strength, not ours.

The call often comes in answer to prayer, but usually not our own. (Esther 4)
Israel prayed for deliverance, God calls Moses. The people prayed for rescue from Midian, God raised up Gideon. Jesus prayed all night, then called the right guys to be His disciples.

The call comes when God is ready to act. (Exodus 3:7,10)
We don’t have to wait on God’s timing. By the time He has called, it is His timing, and we need to respond.

What has God called you to? How did you respond?